Engine-starting device.



E. J. TOWUNSON.

ENGINE STAR'HNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. H. 1916.

1,244fi 33. Patented Oct. 23, um.

TTURA/EY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. TOMLINSON, OF NEWARK, NEW J'EBSEY, ASSIGNOB 'IO SPLITDOBF ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

ENGINE-STARTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

Application filed November 11, 1916. Serial No. 130,796.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. TOMLIN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residin in the city of Newark, county of Essex, an State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine- Starting Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates in general to starting devices used in connection with that class ofprime movers which are incapable of starting up on their own power. In particular it is admirably adapted to the starting of internal combustion engines such as used for automobiles and other autovehicles.

In practically all devices of this class and especially those whiclnare automatic in action, the construction and arrangement of the various elements necessary to the automatic features thereof have the tendency to render the whole device of a com licated nature, and further to reduce the e ciency and reliability of operation. With these facts in mind, it is one of my foremost objects to provide a starter which is automatic in action, yet at the same time of such a novel construction that the working parts are comparatively simple and few in number. By thus reducing the number of parts to a minimum I am able to decrease the cost of manufacture and also vto avoid a great deal of trouble and annoyance in the maintenance of the same.

In the present embodiment of my invention I have made use of an electric motor to furnish the power to start the engine, and

in connection therewith I have associated means to engage and disengage a member operated by said engine in a thoroughly reliable and positive manner, with substantially theloss pf no power or motion. It will of course 'be understood that, although an electric motor is referably used, any other suitable source of power may be employed. These and other ob'ects contemplated by my invention will be etter understood from a consideration .of the following description, together with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of-this specification, and in which like reference symbols denote like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, illustrating one embodiment of my invention, .and with the driving member in its normal inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar toFig. 1 but showing the driving member in o erative engagement with the engine fly wl ieel.

Fi 3 is a sectional view of the driving mem er taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to the drawings, 1 is the armature of an electric motor only a portion of which is shown. 2 is the housing of said motor, serving also if desirable to form the field frame. At one end of the motor, the housing 2 is extended beyond the armature 1 to form a support and guide for various members of the starting mechanism, hereinafter to be described, said extended portion of the housing having a through bore 3 of uniform dimensions. The armature 1 has its shaft 4 extended at one end motor frame 2. Although I have shown the shaft 4 to be a continuation of the armature shaft itself it is evident that said shaft 4 may be a separate element, being suitably connected to the armature 1 as by gearing.

The driving member is seen to consist of a hollow pinion 5 formed integral with a sleeve 6 which extends laterally inward from the face of said pinion. The sleeve 6 is also of hollow formation being throughout a portion of its length of the same internal diameter as the inion 5. Thus an internal recess 7 of uni orm diameter is provided throughout substantially 'the entire length of the driving member. At its inner end sleeve 6 has its inner diameter reduced to form an inside annular shoulder 8, which shoulder is disposed concentrically. about the armature shaft 4 and is adapted to accommodate the same with a free sliding fit. Externally the sleeve 6 of the driving member is cylindrical in shape, being adapted to fit osition the driving member may assume in its longitudinal travel alon said shaft. Also the outer surface of t e sleeve 6 of the driving member serves as a journal whereby the driving member and shaft 4 when driven by armature 1 may rotate in the bearing provided by the circular bore 3 in the motor housin 2. In brief then the sleeve 6 presents two earing surfaces which cotiperate to hold the armature shaft and driving member in fixed axial alinement, and to provide the necessary bearings for the rotatable elements of the starting mechanism.

Disposed about the shaft 4 is a resilient or energy storing member, which as shown in the present embodiment takes the form of a coiled spring 9. Said spring is designed as a compresslon element, being adapted to repose within the recess 7 of' the riving member. When in its normal: spent pos1- tion, as shown in Fig. 1, spring. 9 assumes a diameter intermediate of the diameter of shaft 4 and that of the recess 7. In other words said spring has its convolutions sparingly dis osed about shaft 4 so as to leave considera' 1e space therebetween,- at the same time allowing sufiicient clearance with the walls of recess 7 to avoid any danger of binding during the axial movement of the driving member. At\one end spring 9 I is securely fastened to the inner surface of sleeve 6 and preferably at a point adjacent the shoulder 8. The fastening means may be of any suitable type as a bolt 10. Bolt 10 is provided with a countersunk head 11 in order not to interfere with the movement of sleeve 6. At its other end spring 9 is anchored to the shaft 4 as by means of a screw 12. Said screw'preferably has an enlarged head which serves as a stop to limit the outward travel of pinion 5.

I have shown only enough of the engine flywheel 13 as is necessary to a clear under standing of my invention, and as the embodiment thereof is particularly well adapted to the starting of automobile engines it will be understood that the same maybe installed in any suitable manner, preferably in close proximity with the engine flywheel. I have not attempted to show the method in which my starter may be installed as this forms no part of my invention and is well understood by those skilled in the art. Flywheel 13 is provided with a circular rack of gear teeth 14. Pinion 5 is provided with similar gear teeth 15 which are suited to mesh with teeth 14 on the flywheel 13, (see Fig. 2) a The extended portion of the motor casing 2 which supports the driving member is seen to have flanges 1.6 and 17, formed integral therewith. These flanges serve to reinforce the motor casing and prevent undue stresses therein during the cranking period. Carried by flange 17 is a pin 18 upon which is pivoted a do 19. Said do lies in the plane containin t e axis of sha t 4, and is adapted for slig t'rotation about pin 18. Av compression s ring 20 bears on the to of do 19 ten 'ng to urge the same ownwar against shoulder 21, which shoulder is an integral portion of casing 2, and which provide a sto for the downward movement of said do e compression of spring 20 may be adjusted by a set screw 22 carried by a portion 23 of the motor frame. The free end of the dog rojects just beyond the end of the motor Frame 2 and has a depending V-shaped nose 24, adapted to fit in between two adjacent teeth 15 of the driving pinion 5, when said pinion is in position previous to its engagement with flywheel 13. Said V-shaped nose has its outer end rounded as at 25 so as to facilitate its engagement with pinion 5, there by removin the danger of said depending nose from o structing the path of pinion 5 as it moves fromengagement with engine member 13 to its home position. In this last named position the pinion 5 abuts the shoulder 26 of the motor frame and thereby finds a stop for its inward travel.

Describing the operation of my improved starter let it be assumed that the engine is idle, and that the several parts of the starting device are in their normal inoperative position as seen in Fig. 1. Upon a source of current (not shown) being ap lied to motor armature 1, the same, toget er with its shaft 4 begins to rotate. Since the driving member is connected to shaft 4 through the medium of spring 9 said spring has a tendency to transmit the rotary movement of shaft 4 to the driving pinion 5. But the spring 20 is pressing the nose 24 of the dog 19 firmly in between two adjacent teeth of the pinion 5, which prohibits any rotation being imparted to said pinion. As one end of the spring 9 is fastened to the sleeve 6 and thereby held stationary, said spring offers a resistance to the rotation of armature shaft 4. This resisting force draws the several convolutions of the spring nearer and nearer together, resulting in a gradual compression of said spring. As the spring is thus compressed it draws the driving pinion 5 toward engagement with teeth 14 on the engine member. In the meantime the dog 19 is still in engagement with pinion 5 to prevent the same from turning, which would allow the spring to expand and give upthe energy that is being stored. Dog 19 maintains its contact with pinion 5 until said pinion has acquired a preliminary en agement with gear teeth 14, at which time tfie pinion passes without the reach of said dog. However the pinion now bein in partial engagement with flywheel teet 14, is restrained from rotation and the spring 9 continues being compressed to advance the pinion into its wheel.

' compress itself unhindered when acted upon by .the rotation of shaft 4. As said spring is so compressed to carry driving pinion 5 into mesh with flywheel 13, its diameter gradually decreases to approach the diameter of shaft 4, and when-said pinion has finally reached its complete engagement the diam--.

eter of spring 9 has been reduced until its several convolutions are in gripping contact with shaft 4. The novelty of this ara means for advancin rangement will be readily apparent, for it will be seen that while the spring 9 serves as the driving pinion into engagement with t e engine member, it

. further serves as an absorption means to eliminate shocks by permitting a gradual application of the force necessary to overcome the resistance of the engine members in cranking. Also by virtue of the fact that spring 9 has a gripping effect upon shaft I while the engine is being cranked, the driving force is uniformly distributed along said shaft, thereby relieving fastening members 10 and 12 of considerable stress.

When the engine starts on its own power flywheel 13 accelerates and acquires a speed exceeding that imparted to it by the starting device. So long as pinion 5 is driving flywheel 13 the holding force between the teeth of said pinion and flywheel is suflicient to maintain spring 9 in its restrained position,

but immediately the engine picks up on its own power this holding force is removed, and the spring 9 now being free to act expands to carry the driving pinion out of mesh with the flywheel 13 backto its normal inoperative position.

While the sprin 20 urges the dog 19 between the teeth of pinion -5 withsufiicient pressure to hold said pinion against rotation when spring 9 is being compressed, yet should for any reason the pinion 5 be advanced into mesh with the flywheel while the latter is rotating rapidly, the dog 19, owing to its V-shaped nose, would be permitted to rise out of engagement and click over the teeth of said pinion, thereby preventing the stripping of the gear teeth or damage to other parts of the starter. By subjecting spring 9 to a slight compression when assembled in position as seen in Fig. 1, and by a proper adjustment of spring 20 the danger of pinion 5 creeping away from its home position due to vibration is removed.

A feature of my invention is the promptness with which the driving member responds to the rotation of the armature shaft, and

with practically the loss of no motion. That is, the work done by the first few revolutions of the armature is stored up in the spring while the driving pinion is advancing toward engagement, which stored ener later avails itself to carry said pinion to its home position when the engine has been started.

While I have shown and described what is at present considered by me to be the best embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that I do not care to limit myself to the exact detailsof construction and operation shown therein, as many changes and alterations may be made without departing "from the spirit of said invention.

Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my invention, what I claim is 1. In a starter for gas engines in combination with a member operated by the engine, a motor having an extended armature shaft, a driving member mounted upon said shaft to move longitudinally thereof into driving engagement with the engine member, resilient means interconnecting said shaft and driving member for the purpose of causing such longitudinal movement when the motor armature begins to rotate, a frame for said motor with an extension at one end thereof, a recess in said extension adapted to receive said driving member and serving as a guide for the same while said driving member is being advanced into engagement with the engine member. v

2. In a starter for gas engines in combination with a member driven by the engine, an electric motor having an extended armature shaft, a driving member mounted upon said shaft adapted to move axially with respect thereto into driving engagement with the engine member, means disposed about said shaft for causing the driving member to advance into said engagement when said motor begins to rotate, a frame for said motor having a projecting portion at one end, a recess in such projecting portion adapted .to receive said driving member, and to serve as a guide therefor during its axial movement along said armature shaft.

3. In a starter for gas engines in combination with a member driven by the engine, an electric motor having an extended armature shaft, a driving member mounted upon said shaft adapted to move longitudinally with respect thereto into and out of driving engagement with the engine member, means associated with the armature shaft to cause said driving member to pass into said engagement when the motor begins to operate, and later to withdraw from such engagement when the engine runs on its own power, and a frame for said starter comprising as an integral structure a housing for the motor and a guiding support for said driving member in its longitudinal movement relative to the motor shaft.

4. In a starter for gas engines in combinamember is permitted to slide in its longitudinal movement relative to the motor shaft, said recess serving also as a bearing in which the driving member rotates while cranking the engine. 7

5. In a starter for gas engines in combination with a member operated by the engine, a motor driven shaft, a driving member mounted upon said shaft and adapted to be driven thereby to start said engine, a frame for said motor having a bearing in which said driving member rotates, a bearing in said driving member in which the motor driven shaft is supported, and means whereby said driving member is moved to engage said engine member, the driving member being adapted during its movement toward such engagement to slide longitudinally in said motor housing bearing, and said driving memberbearing being adapted to slide longitudinally with respect to the motor driven shaft.

6. In a starter for gas engines in combination with a toothed wheel operated by the engine, a motor, a toothed pinion driven by said motor to drive said engine wheel,- resilient means for causing said pinion to automatically engage and disengage said engine wheel, and means cooperating with the teeth on said pinion to hold the latter from rotating while being advanced into engagement with said engine wheel.

7. In a starter for gas engines in combination with a member connected to the engine, a motor, a drivingrmember driven by said motor to drive said engine member, resilient means to cause said driving member to automatically engage and disengage said engine member, and a member cooperating with said driving member to prevent the latter from rotating While being advanced to engage with the engine member.

8. In a starter for gas engines in comout of engagement with said engine member,

and means carried by the frame of said motor and adapted to cooperate with the teeth of said pinion to hold the latter from rotation while being advanced to engage said engine member.

9. In a starter for 3 engines in combination with a tooth member operated by the engine, -a motor driven pinion adapted to engage and drive said engine member, resilient means to cause said pinion to automatically ,engage said on me member, and

a dog plvota ly supporte by the frame of said motor and engaging the teeth of the driving pinion whereby said .pinion is held.

against rotation while passing into engagement with said engine member.

10. In a starter for gas-engines in combination with a gear member operated by the engine, a motor driven pinion with gear teeth thereon adapted to engage and drive said engine member, resilient means for causing said pinion to automatically engage and disengage said engine member, a 0g pivotally mounted upon the frame of said motorfsaid dog havmga de endin V-shaped nose adapted to engage t e teet of said fpinion whereby said pinion is revented rom rotating while being move to engage the engine member, and yielding means associated with and urging said dog into said engagement with the teeth of the the engine, a motor, a toothed pinion driven thereby and adapted to engage and drive said engine member, and yielding pivotal means coacting with the teeth of said pinion to normally hold the same from rotating while passing into engagement with the engine member, said yielding means being adapted to permit said pinion to rotate should the same engage the engine member while the latter is rotating rapldly.

13. In a starter for gas engmes in combination with a member 0 .erated by the engine, a motor driven sha a driving member for engaging said engine member mounted on said shaft and yielding means connecting the two, said yielding means serving to'connect the driving member with the engine member and. also as the driving medium between said shaft and driving member.

14. In a starter for gas engines in combination with a member 0 rated by the engine, a motor driven pinlon adapted to engage and drive said engine member, resilient driving means interconnecting said motor and pinion, said means serving to automatically engage and disengage said pinion with the engine member.

15. In a starter for gas engines in combination with a member operated by the engine, a motor driven shaft, a hollow driving member mounted thereupon to move longitudinally with respect thereto into and out of driving engagement with the engine member, a coiled spring disposed about said shaft within said hollow driving member and interconnecting the two last mentioned elements, whereby said spring serves as a yielding driving connection between the motor shaft and driving member and also as a means to automatically engage and disengage said driving member with the engine operated member.

16. In a starter for gas engines in combination with a member operated by the engine, a motor driven shaft, a driving member having a cylindrical recess therein and mounted upon said shaft to move axially with respect thereto into driving engagement with the engine member, a coiled spring arranged within said recess about said shaft and having a normal diameter intermediate the diameters of said shaft and cylindrical recess, said spring interconnecting said shaft and driving member and acting both as a compression and contractile means, whereby When the motor shaft rotates said spring is compressed to move the driving member into engagement with the engine member and also contracts and grips the motor shaft to give a driving connection between said shaft and driving member.

17. In a starter for gas engines in combination with a member connected to the engine, a motor driven shaft, a hollow driving member mounted upon said shaft and actuated thereby to move into driving engagement with said engine member, a flexi-ble connecting means between said shaft and driving member and adapted to grip the shaft while said driving member is, driving the engine member, said flexible means being disposed within and concentric with said hollow driving member.

18. In a starter for gas engines in combination with a member operated by the engine, a motor driven shaft, a driving member actuated thereby to engage and drive said engine member, said driving member while engaging said engine member also serving as a sliding bearing for said motor driven shaft.

19. In a starter for gas engines in combination with a member operated by the engine, a motor driven shaft, a driving member for engaging said engine member, yielding means serving to connect the driving member with the engine member and also as the driving medium between said shaft and the driving member, said driving member also serving as a journal for said motor shaft.

20. In a starter for gas engines in combination with a member operated by the engine, a motor driven shaft, a driving member having one end adapted to engage said engine driven member and the other end to act as a journal for said motor shaft, yielding means connecting the driving member to the motor shaft, said yielding means serving to connect the driving means to the engine member and also as the driving medium between said motor shaft and driving member.

21. In a starter for gas engines in combination with an engine member having teeth thereon, an electric motor having an extended armature shaft, a frame for said motor with an integral projecting portion having a circular recess therein, a hollow driving pinion with gear teeth thereon and adapted to be mounted upon said shaft, a sleeve integral with said pinion having an annular shoulder at one end which serves as a bearing for said shaft, said sleeve being disposed within the circular recess of the motor frame and adapted for rotary and longitudinal movements therein, exible means interconnecting said sleeve and motor shaft and inclosed by said sleeve and pinion whereby the driving pinion is automatically advanced to engage and drive the engine member, said flexible means serving also to automatically withdraw the driving pinion from such engagement when the engine runs on its own ower.

In witness whereof afiix my signature.

EDWARD J. TOMLINSON. 

